Kincardine Kinucks Under-13 AE team wins Regional Silver Stick in Exeter
By: Tim McKay
November 22, 2021
The Kincardine Kinucks Under-13 Lakeside GM AE team won the South Huron Regional Silver Stick Championship in thrilling fashion, Sunday, in Exeter.
Despite injuries to both of the team’s goaltenders, Spencer McGillivray and Hassan Afzaal, the boys were able to persevere to win the title and the chance to represent Kincardine at the International Silver Stick tournament in Pelham in January.
The Kinucks survived a nail-biter of a game in the semi-final, a 3-2 win over the Mooretown Junior Flags, in three-on-three overtime, when Max Roppel scored the game-winner from Jack McKay. Afzaal, the team’s only goalie after McGillivray suffered a foot injury Friday, had his hand cut open by a skate blade in the ensuing celebration.
With fresh stitches in the back of his catching hand, Afzaal held the Kinucks in the championship game in the first two periods, with the BCH Ice Dogs leading 2-0 going into the third.
Defenceman Logan Hodgins closed the gap with an end-to-end solo effort to score and give his team some much-needed momentum. Cavan Waites tied the game three minutes later from Mason Ruthven and McKay, and Alex Tourloukis potted the game-winner with four minutes remaining, from Ruthven and Roppel.
McGillivray recorded a shut-out in his only start of the tournament, a 4-0 win over the Ilderton Jets, Friday. Kincardine went undefeated with wins against Petrolia and Mitchell in its round-robin games.
It was a complete team effort with every player contributing and hitting the scoresheet: Roppel, 10 points; Ruthven, 9; McKay, 6; Tourloukis, 6; Hodgins, 4; Waites, 3; Colby Sheppard, 3; Carter Drennan, 3; Brodie Ford, 2; Tucker McKenzie, 1; Shawn Courtney, 1; Riley Andjelic, 1; and Taron Hervieux, 1.
The Kincardine Kinucks Under-13 AE team's players and coaches hold up their championship banner after winning the South Huron Regional Silver Stick in Exeter on the weekend; photo courtesy of Tim McKay
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